Electronically controlled warmer drawer
First Claim
1. A warmer drawer comprising:
- a frame having a top, a bottom, a first and a second side, a back, and a front panel and defining a cavity having at least two chambers wherein at least one side includes an inner wall, an outer wall, and a space between the inner wall and the outer wall, defining a double-wall side;
a drawer assembly slidably connected to the frame, wherein the drawer assembly is sized to fit within at least one of the chambers through an opening in the front panel, wherein the drawer assembly includes;
a base plate generally defining the lower surface of the drawer;
at least one inlet vent disposed on the front panel below the drawer assembly in fluid communication with a first chamber of the at least two chambers via the space in the double-wall side; and
at least one exhaust vent disposed in a portion of the base plate extending outside of the front panel in fluid communication with a second chamber of the at least two chambers;
a door connected to the drawer assembly;
a heating element located in at least one of the chambers;
a fan for moving heated air within the cavity;
controls for operating the fan and the heating element; and
a sensor in communication with the electronic controls for controlling the current supplied to the heating element.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronically controlled warmer drawer that supports a plurality of products, e.g., towels, in a drawer that is attached to a housing is disclosed. The housing includes a plurality of flow paths constructed to facilitate the passage of a heated gas flow through the cavity defined by the drawer. The drawer further includes a plurality of brackets constructed to support the articles to be heated along with a user interface, vents, blower fan, electrical heating element and two internal chambers. The system is controlled by way of the user interface on the front of the housing that interacts with an electronic control system to operate the heating element and fan. A sensor sends signals to the electronic control system to regulate the heating element and fan.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A warmer drawer comprising:
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a frame having a top, a bottom, a first and a second side, a back, and a front panel and defining a cavity having at least two chambers wherein at least one side includes an inner wall, an outer wall, and a space between the inner wall and the outer wall, defining a double-wall side; a drawer assembly slidably connected to the frame, wherein the drawer assembly is sized to fit within at least one of the chambers through an opening in the front panel, wherein the drawer assembly includes; a base plate generally defining the lower surface of the drawer; at least one inlet vent disposed on the front panel below the drawer assembly in fluid communication with a first chamber of the at least two chambers via the space in the double-wall side; and at least one exhaust vent disposed in a portion of the base plate extending outside of the front panel in fluid communication with a second chamber of the at least two chambers; a door connected to the drawer assembly; a heating element located in at least one of the chambers; a fan for moving heated air within the cavity; controls for operating the fan and the heating element; and a sensor in communication with the electronic controls for controlling the current supplied to the heating element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification